Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please email them to us. Many questions may be answered by reading the users manuals available in the resources section.

AgCam / EnduraCam

Monitors & Adaptor Cables

OverView

Wireless

What happens when the lens gets lots of dust on it?

AgCam and EnduraCam camera lenses are made of photo chromic (IE: auto darken in sunlight) triple hardened glass. This feature, along with the superior ability of the cameras to focus past debris on the lens, allows for viewing even in the harshest environments.

What is the warranty?

AgCam and EnduraCam monitors include 2 years for the monitor and 3 years for the camera. We understand that farm equipment can sit for months unused, so we wanted to make sure that an entire season would be covered under our warranty.

Can you have more than two cameras on one monitor?

Yes, you can. A standard Dakota Micro monitor allows for viewing of up to 4 cameras, 1 camera at a time. We also offer a quad monitor which allows viewing of 4 cameras simultaneously.

Can I use my EnduraCam or AgCam camera system for underwater viewing?

Yes. The camera is 100% waterproof and can be submerged in water over 300 feet deep. Although, keep in mind that the monitor is NOT. Never get the monitor wet. Also, if you are going to throw your camera in the water, make sure that all twist-lock connectors are secure and will not come apart. We also recommend the application of some dielectric compound to the connector contacts to help prevent corrosion. You may want to even secure the cable connectors with electrical tape or some other means of safety. Dakota Micro does not warranty the cameras against loss in this situation. The warranty does provide for damage in case the camera takes in water for up to three years.

How stable is the image on a moving piece of equipment? Will I be able to see anything worthwhile when moving down a rough road or in the field?

The image is amazingly stable. Even on the roughest road, the image you see appears steady. We have road tested this camera system on some of the roughest roads we could find. We even did some things that were possibly stupid in an attempt to knock the camera loose from the hood of an old 4×4 pickup. The camera stayed in place, and the image it produced was clear and sharp. Other tests were done on machines with high movement.

How corrosion proof is the AgCam/EnduraCam when it comes to things like sulfur, salt, ammonia, and other chemicals?

The AgCam and EnduraCam cameras are made of anodized aluminum. This type of aluminum resists chemical reaction and corrosion by “growing” hydrolyzed columns of aluminum out of the surface with electrical energy. The soft and weak elements are then simultaneously eaten away with acid; this creates a non-conductive and very resistant shell on the camera. Next to stainless and plastic, anodized aluminum is the 3rd most corrosive resistant material.

How strong is the magnet on the AgCam cameras?

The magnets supplied with the AgCam cameras are rated at 65 pounds of pull force (pull force is the force required to pull a magnet free from a flat steel plate using force perpendicular to the surface).

Dakota Micro recommends the use of these magnets for temporary mounting of cameras. We suggest that you utilize a tie mechanism (i.e., zip tie) to strap down either the camera base or the camera tail when the camera is located in high vibration areas or areas prone to outside forces.

How well does the Ag Cam perform in high dust situations? How does it resist scratching?

The lens on our cameras is constructed of triple hardened, photo grey (auto darkening) glass that resists both dust collection and scratching/scuffing. To clean off the lens when it does get dirty, wipe it clean with a cloth (the corner of a shirt works nicely for this).

Glass lenses tend to be antistatic, where plastic tends to become statically charged and attract dust. Please take a look at how the AgCam performed under high dust situations on our AgCam page.

Can I use AgCam and Overview cameras together?

Yes. However, the connectors on the two systems are different. We do have adaptors available. DMAC-OVM and DMAC-OVC

Are there different lenses available for the AgCam and EnduraCam system? If so, can I switch them out?

Yes, there are different lenses. Both the AgCam and EnduraCam cameras are available with the following lenses (3.6mm being the standard): 3.6mm, 6mm, 12mm, and 16mm. No, the customer cannot switch them out him/herself since the cameras are sealed in a unique environment to prevent moisture from remaining inside the cameras when they are built. If you are unhappy with the viewing angle of your camera, contact our customer service department, and we can see if the opportunity exists to switch out the lens for you (for a small charge).

What is the difference between the HC (AHD) camera and the LC (Analog) camera?

Dakota Micro introduced the AHD (Analog High Definition) cameras in the summer of 2018. The AHD cameras have the part number “HC.” The original Legacy cameras have the “LC” part number. Legacy cameras can be utilized with AHD monitors. AHD cameras will not display properly on LC monitors. AHD equipment has a lot of great new features, including true 720P resolution and full 16:9 aspect ratio (so your image isn’t stretched).

How far can I see in the dark with my AgCam or EnduraCam system?

You can see up to 75 feet in complete darkness with the built-in IR emitters. The infrareds will automatically come on in low light conditions.

What are the differences between the AgCam and the EnduraCam?

The difference between the AgCam and EnduraCam is probably one of the most common questions we get. We have a direct comparison chart of the differences between not only the AgCam vs. the EnduraCam but also the OverView camera vs. the EnduraCam camera. The biggest difference between the AgCam and the EnduraCam is that the EnduraCam has additional internal reinforcing to allow it to withstand additional vibration and impact.

Are your cables repairable?

What is the warranty on your cables?

The warranty on Dakota Micro cables is 1 year.

Do you have an adaptor cable for my 3rd Party monitor (IE: John Deere, CNH, etc.)

Yes. You can find a full list of the adaptor cables we offer by clicking on the Cables/Accessories tab on the respective product page. Keep in mind that most 3rd party monitors are NOT AHD capable and you will need to utilize the analog AgCam or EnduraCam cameras.

Do you have an adaptor so I can plug my AgCam Camera into an Overview monitor? Will this adaptor work for CabCam as well?

Yes, we make an adaptor cable to integrate the AgCam camera into OverView monitor, and the same part number will work to plug the AgCam camera into the CabCam monitor. The part number is DMAC-OVM. If you would like to connect an OverView camera to an AgCam monitor, you can use adaptor cable DMAC-OVC.

Do you offer 3rd Party adaptor cables for OverView?

Is the OverView camera system made in the USA?

No. The OverView system is manufactured to Dakota Micro’s strict specifications in China.

Why should I pay more for an AgCam or EnduraCam system than the OverView system?

The short answer is that you get what you pay for. The AgCam and EnduraCam systems are made in the US, have a 3 year warranty on cameras, and are manufactured to withstand the harshest of environments. The OverView system is designed for medium use and includes a 1 year warranty.

Will the OverView system work in harsher environments (IE: calving barn or on a sprayer)

The OverView system is considered a medium duty system that is great for use in situations where you don’t have a high chemical or urea usage. While you can choose to use it in these types of environments, it won’t stand up in the way that an AgCam or EnduraCam system will.

Can I use AgCam/EnduraCam and Overview equipment together?

Yes, but because that the connectors on the AgCam system are 5-pin and the OverView system is 4-pin, you would need to use the following adaptors cables, DMAC-OVM connects an AgCam/EnduraCam camera to an OverView monitor. DMAC-OVC connects an OverView camera to an AgCam/EnduraCam monitor.

How do I know which antenna I need for my wireless set up? I have the one that came with the system, but my image is not great.

The antenna that you’d need would depend upon your application. For a quick reference, the antennas that come with the wireless kits are the 3dBi antennas and are good for shorter distances (i.e. unloading on the go applications).

The 5dBi antenna would be useful in an application that you’d need to span a distance of 200-300 yards. The 8dBi antennas are better for longer distances (up to 4 miles) with a line of sight. If you want more specific information, please contact our technical support department.

Yes, this is a common question that we receive. Each monitor would need a receiver and would need to be on the same channel as the transmitter that is hooked up to the camera.

I see that there is a digital wireless option for the OverView system. Is that better and can I add cameras to it?

The digital OverView wireless system has the transmitters and receivers built right into the camera and monitor. Digital wireless is also limited on distance. This camera system option is best used for things like livestock trailers or campers. The digital OverView wireless system comes with 2 cameras, and additional cameras or monitors cannot be added to this system like they can with our OverView or AgCam analog wireless systems.

What do you use for power when you are using the wireless transmitters and receivers?

Wireless transmitters need to be powered by an external power source, either AC or 12v. Wireless receivers can be powered by the Dakota Micro monitor, AC or a 12v power source.

How vital is a line of sight with the wireless system?

You will probably not have a problem within 200 feet using wireless with the included 3dBi antennas. The signal can penetrate sheetrock walls to a limited degree depending on the distance and other local factors of interference such as electrical lines, trees, steel building, bin sites and in some cases weather. It would help if you gave it a try without any external antennas. If possible, locate the transmitter in a window to reduce the amount of signal loss. If all else fails, you should be able to achieve good results using the 5dbi magnetic mount antenna. You can find additional information about our wireless antennas by clicking on the Cables/Accessories tab on the respective camera page.

For wireless, will the OverView use the same wireless units as the AgCam?

The OverView system will use the same wireless units for transmission, but they have a different connector. All AgCam and EnduraCam components utilize a 5-pin connector, while OverView uses a 4-pin connector. All OverView series wireless components utilize a part number that all begin with the letters “DMOV” to denote “Dakota Micro OverView.”

Which is better, wired or wireless?

Wired is recommended for any application where you are going from the front of a machine to the rear. While it may seem convenient to go “wireless,” so you don’t have to run cables, you still have to provide power to your camera. Also, a wireless signal may have difficulty penetrating the equipment that is between the camera location and the cab.

Does the wireless work with both AHD and analog?

No. The current wireless equipment for AgCam and EnduraCam is Analog ONLY. Dakota Micro doesn’t *currently* have a solution for using the AHD system wirelessly. We are working on this issue and hope to have a solution to utilize the systems wirelessly soon. Keep checking back!